LifeWays Early Childhood Fundamentals Course

Inspiration and Support Getting Started Working with Young Children

Congratulations! You have been hired to work in a Waldorf or LifeWays early childhood program that you have admired for some time. Or you now find yourself ready to open your own program. Perhaps you are a new assistant or extended care provider, a new co-teacher or regular substitute. Yet you have no training or background in the work. Or perhaps you have been out of the field for a while and could use a refresher. It may be that you are a new parent or grandparent and want to be more creative in your home and family life. We want to help you find the ground beneath your feet so that you can grow in confidence.

It may be a little while before you can enroll in a regular training program. If so, this Early Childhood Fundamentals course is for you. Your teachers, both on-site and online, are long-time early childhood teachers in Waldorf and/or LifeWays programs. We look forward to offering you support and inspiration.

When you enroll in the full LifeWays Early Childhood Certification Training, your ENTIRE TUITION PAID FOR THIS EARLY CHILDHOOD FUNDAMENTALS COURSE WILL BE APPLIED TO YOUR LIFEWAYS CERTIFICATION TRAINING TUITION! (Only the $200 supply fee for consumables and food are deducted!)

Components of LifeWays Early Childhood Fundamentals include:

  • Feet on the Ground – Our five-day in-person retreat will fill your tool kit with basics of care and education.
  • Fire in the Belly – On retreat, you’ll enjoy delicious organic food.
  • Heart in Hands – You’ll also learn simple and meaningful handwork projects.
  • Head in the Clouds – We will continue our course with fifty (50) hours of online, mentor-supported content and discussion. This will include content from LifeWays’ “The Living Arts – Cornerstones of Care”, “Discipline with Loving Awareness” and “Building a Strong Foundation,” along with five scheduled video conference sessions throughout the school year for Q & A on specific topics. (This online content plus five Zoom sessions add up to a $650 value alone!)

The Fundamentals course runs annually, beginning with an in-person retreat in late July or early August.

Please tune in later for next summer’s Fundamentals retreat locations.

Click Here for a description of the entire course.  Click Here for a sample schedule of a five-day workshop.
 
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Price: $1500 for the entire year-long course Includes organic snacks and lunch and all supplies for the five day retreat, mentoring and online instruction. And remember, the entire tuition (after subtracting the $200 supply fee) can be applied to the full-year in-person LifeWays Certificate training if you enroll in the future!

Register for This Course

Check back later to apply for next summer's courses.

You must begin the registration process by paying a non refundable registration fee of $100. After payment you will be asked to complete your registration information on the following page.

Complete your registration by turning in your Contract and a Payment Plan). Your place will only be reserved once your payment plan and contract have been approved. (Your spot may be offered to others on the waiting list until we receive and process these forms.)

Financial Aid is Available

We have funds available for students with financial need.  To apply, students should first apply to the training and then fill out the Financial Assistance Form on the website.

Refund Policy

The $100 application fee is nonrefundable. If a student must withdraw from the course, the other costs will be determined as follows:
  • If a student withdraws 30 or more days prior to the course beginning: Full refund less the $100 application fee
  • If a student attends the in person retreat and withdraws from the online portion: 50% tuition refund of the online portion ($325).
  • If a student attends the online portion and withdraws from attending the retreat: Full refund of the supply fee ($200) and 50% tuition refund of the retreat ($325).

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